extension of her arm that it was. The
sword was hers and hers alone, designed and forged by her half-brother. Every
Valkyrie wielded their own Hjörr, but only Father’s favorites were bestowed a
war sword forged of Thor’s strength and hammer. She dared a peek up at the
spectators as they cheered—the vibrant, writhing colors of the onlookers
drawing her eye as they screamed and shouted. She’d never been in the presence
of so many creatures. In truth, she’d only ever been around Valkyrie. All
around, the arena hung flags representing the current gladiators, while others
gave constant reminders of the “No Kill” rule.
“Crazy, huh,” Lisette said.
Concentration broken, Raine faced
her. “Huh?”
“Isn’t it crazy how many there are?
Did you ever imagine?”
“No.” While she and her sisters were
growing up, training to be warrioresses, she’d never imagined there could be so
many other races in existence. Sure, she was made aware of some during her
training days but this … this was inconceivable.
“When are we going to get this thing
going?” Lisette asked. “I feel as though I’ve been tensed to fight forever.”
She reached across her breast guard and whipped out a dagger. Just like Raine,
she’d come prepared with multiple blades in case the need arose. But, she
didn’t hold it at the ready. Instead, she pried the tip under her fingernails,
cleaning out any dirt that had accumulated.
“You know they live on
anticipation.” The council had done this with every round so far, waiting until
the crowd was cheering so loudly that nothing could be heard over the roar.
“They want to keep everyone on their toes.” Including the gladiators.
A horn sounded, and Raine peered
around at the onlookers as their cheers doubled. Just two more signals and the
game would begin. She twisted her feet back and forth in the dirt, looking down
to make sure the toes of her boots were just behind the line drawn on the
ground. There were forty fighters this round, all of them standing just behind
the line drawn in a wide circle that took up nearly the entire arena.
Another blow of a horn sounded and
Lisette gripped her sword and dagger harder. Raine twisted hers in a small arc
to the side of her, getting a feel for her blade—not that she didn’t know it
well enough. “Remember, we are Valkyrie,” she said, sliding a quick glance at
her sister. “This battleground is ours. For Father.”
“For Father.” Lisette smiled.
The final signal sounded, and they
were off, rushing toward the middle of the arena. Raine’s boots hit the hard
ground, pumping, pumping, faster and faster, taking care to keep an eye on both
sides of her. Every fighter in that round was their enemy. Every single one
must be defeated if they were to make their father proud.
They would not fail.
“Go for the yellow one,” Raine
shouted. “I’ve got your back!”
Lisette sped up, heading for the
yellow flag in the center of the arena. There were only four, which meant there
were only four victors in this challenge.
Raine glanced left, noticing that
the ugly demon beside her kept pace with her as he neared. With its bluish-green
scales, long nose, and horns atop its head, she thought it was a Thallig
demon—if she remembered the faction introductions the night before. He swung
out with his club and she sidestepped, but the brunt end glanced off her thigh.
She slowed a single step and came up behind him, though her leg throbbed,
already begging for a reprieve. He noticed her behind him, and she launched
herself in the air, tackling him to the ground. They rolled once, twice, and
she ended up under the demon. But she had his back, and she had her sword held
to his neck, with both hands holding the blade in place.
The creature stilled and rested his
head against her collarbone, forcing her to breathe through her mouth from its
horrendous stench. He spoke calmly, though she couldn’t understand a single
word he said. No doubt he
sword was hers and hers alone, designed and forged by her half-brother. Every
Valkyrie wielded their own Hjörr, but only Father’s favorites were bestowed a
war sword forged of Thor’s strength and hammer. She dared a peek up at the
spectators as they cheered—the vibrant, writhing colors of the onlookers
drawing her eye as they screamed and shouted. She’d never been in the presence
of so many creatures. In truth, she’d only ever been around Valkyrie. All
around, the arena hung flags representing the current gladiators, while others
gave constant reminders of the “No Kill” rule.
“Crazy, huh,” Lisette said.
Concentration broken, Raine faced
her. “Huh?”
“Isn’t it crazy how many there are?
Did you ever imagine?”
“No.” While she and her sisters were
growing up, training to be warrioresses, she’d never imagined there could be so
many other races in existence. Sure, she was made aware of some during her
training days but this … this was inconceivable.
“When are we going to get this thing
going?” Lisette asked. “I feel as though I’ve been tensed to fight forever.”
She reached across her breast guard and whipped out a dagger. Just like Raine,
she’d come prepared with multiple blades in case the need arose. But, she
didn’t hold it at the ready. Instead, she pried the tip under her fingernails,
cleaning out any dirt that had accumulated.
“You know they live on
anticipation.” The council had done this with every round so far, waiting until
the crowd was cheering so loudly that nothing could be heard over the roar.
“They want to keep everyone on their toes.” Including the gladiators.
A horn sounded, and Raine peered
around at the onlookers as their cheers doubled. Just two more signals and the
game would begin. She twisted her feet back and forth in the dirt, looking down
to make sure the toes of her boots were just behind the line drawn on the
ground. There were forty fighters this round, all of them standing just behind
the line drawn in a wide circle that took up nearly the entire arena.
Another blow of a horn sounded and
Lisette gripped her sword and dagger harder. Raine twisted hers in a small arc
to the side of her, getting a feel for her blade—not that she didn’t know it
well enough. “Remember, we are Valkyrie,” she said, sliding a quick glance at
her sister. “This battleground is ours. For Father.”
“For Father.” Lisette smiled.
The final signal sounded, and they
were off, rushing toward the middle of the arena. Raine’s boots hit the hard
ground, pumping, pumping, faster and faster, taking care to keep an eye on both
sides of her. Every fighter in that round was their enemy. Every single one
must be defeated if they were to make their father proud.
They would not fail.
“Go for the yellow one,” Raine
shouted. “I’ve got your back!”
Lisette sped up, heading for the
yellow flag in the center of the arena. There were only four, which meant there
were only four victors in this challenge.
Raine glanced left, noticing that
the ugly demon beside her kept pace with her as he neared. With its bluish-green
scales, long nose, and horns atop its head, she thought it was a Thallig
demon—if she remembered the faction introductions the night before. He swung
out with his club and she sidestepped, but the brunt end glanced off her thigh.
She slowed a single step and came up behind him, though her leg throbbed,
already begging for a reprieve. He noticed her behind him, and she launched
herself in the air, tackling him to the ground. They rolled once, twice, and
she ended up under the demon. But she had his back, and she had her sword held
to his neck, with both hands holding the blade in place.
The creature stilled and rested his
head against her collarbone, forcing her to breathe through her mouth from its
horrendous stench. He spoke calmly, though she couldn’t understand a single
word he said. No doubt he
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